Vodafone apparently noticed the problem when it realised that subscribers being put forward for connection by PocketPhone Shop were not achieving good credit scores.

Vodafone communications manager Corrinne Norris said:

Vodafone Connect has given PocketPhone Shop notice of termination of their contract although discussions are ongoing and it may be that we continue to work with them on the right commercial basis. The reason for notice being given in the first place is that there has been a marked deterioration in the quality as well as the quantity of the business that they have been putting on to Vodafone.

PocketPhone Shop managing director Andrew Fryatt added:

Vodafone has been unhappy over some months with the quality of connections through PPS. Since then there has been a change of management. We are in discussions at the moment.

Vodafone and we expect we are going to carry on trading. Vodafone want to re-negotiate the terms of our trading agreement with them. Im sure we will end up selling Vodafone product from Vodafone Connect said Fryatt.

Vodafone says its decision to end its contract had no connection with the fact that PocketPhone Shop is owned by One 2 One

The box comes with 10 worth of calls in the box.

Vodafone will launching Smartstep with a 12 million advertising campaign featuring actor Hamish Clarke who has fronted all the Vodafone pre-pay commercials so far.

Smartstep is being sold with a choice of Alcatel One Touch Club ( 39.99) Sagem MC920 ( 39.99) Trium Mars ( 39.99) Nokia 5110 ( 59.99) and Nokia 3210 ( 99.99).

JWE is expected to soon announce that it has sold its chain of 21 shops probably to GMC Holdings which runs Mobile Phone Centre dealerships.

Following Mobile News story on September 18 about the proposed sale JWE CEO Tony Farmer said:

Theres been no further movement Im afraid. Im hoping to be able to tell you something fairly soon.

We announced back in July that we were looking to dispose of the retail businesses and that we were hoping to do so fairly soon. That is still the case.

We are in discussions with the same parties as we have been in discussions with all along. These things take time and because we are a public company. Im afraid I cant be any more forthcoming until the deal is done. Im hopeful that we will have something more concrete to say in time for the next issue of Mobile News said Farmer.

GMC Holdings has not issued any denial of our report that it was in line to pick up the JWE shops.

GMC has around 37 stores producing approximately 5000 connections a month.

The work has been done for us by Kendal-based company bfinternet (www.bfinternet.co.uk) who have already created over 400 websites and internet related projects.

Bfinternet set up a new division this year to develop content consultancy design and production services for WAP and the mobile internet. To date bfinternet have created over 2500 wml pages.

It is appropriate that Mobile News is one of the first magazines available on WAP said bfinternet managing director Andrew Read.

Ora will supply DX outlets with Ora and Grab-branded accessories. Grab is a new youth-orientated brand of coloured accessories designed to appeal to the teenage market Ora is currently expanding its operations and facilities. The company recently appointed a new managing director Ken Jacobson (Mobile News September 18).

A record 7000 visitors attended. And more than 70 per cent of available space for next years show has already been sold.

Said Siemens marketing manager Sue Rowe:

We expected a good response. In fact the show exceeded all our expectations.

One 2 One stand manager Bob Gumby noted:

Mobilexpo has been a great success for One 2 One. The quality of exhibitors and range of audience profile exceeded all our expectations.

Major players who have already booked their space for Mobilexpo 2001 include: Nokia Ericsson One 2 One Trium Siemens Motorola Philips Samsung Orange Ora Sagem and NEC.

Mobilexpo 2000 has been a tremendous success said exhibition director John Stuttard.

With over 7000 visitors this year we are proud to claim that Mobilexpo is without rival as the Number One event for the UK mobile dealer market. The quantity and quality of visitors has delighted our exhibitors. Feedback on site confirmed that we have exceeded their expectations.

Seminars were a great success with standing-room only for many of the sessions in the 70-seat rooms.

The OGC launched in October last year oversees the purchasing activity of some 200 Government departments and agencies.

Vodafones specialist service provider for the corporate market Vodafone Corporate has been given supplier status by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) under the Government Telecommunications Mobile (GTM) agreement.

OGC chief executive Peter Gershon said:

The major benefit to any public sector organisation purchasing products or services from the registered GTM service provider is that there is no requirement for the organisation to go through the usual tender process as the contracts have already been negotiated and price checked by independent consultants to the CCTA.

Vodafone has put in place a wide spectrum of products and services to provide total communications solutions for public sector organisations and this agreement provides us with the opportunity to help them run their businesses effectively and competitively.

We will also be able to highlight the benefits of new technologies such as m-commerce through Vodafones internet capabilities said Vodafone s UK chief executive Peter Bamford.

Vodafone Corporate has designed a range of tariffs specifically for the government marketplace.

In addition to its capacity as an advisor on mobile telecommunications issues to the Government Vodafone also acts as a supplier to the public sector including contracts with local regional and central Government departments such as the Ministry of Defence the NHS and the emergency services.

Also George Tennet formally of Ericsson Mobile Phones has joined Phones International data accessories division Data Select as business development director.

I am delighted to welcome these two key industry personalities to our management team. Richard and George will be bringing with them a wealth of knowledge understanding and vision that complements the ethos of our company going forward said Phones International group managing director and founder Peter Jones .

They are Giovanna Hussain (NTG Ltd t/a Mobile Phones 348 Bethnal Green Road London E2 0AH) and Nigel Murray (Rutland Communications 500 Bradford Road Batley)

They are the latest named dealers to receive notice that they are in breach of the FCS Crime Prevention Scheme and that its Inspectorate considers the breach to be serious.

Since the revised rules of the Scheme came into effect last November the FCS Crime Action Group whose members include senior security representatives from all operators manufacturers and service providers has reaffirmed its commitment to the operation of the Scheme and the (Cont P2) maintenance of the agreement on which it is based said James Malcolm manager of the Scheme.

The principles of the FCS Crime Prevention Scheme require adherence to simple rules. Any criminal activity found will be reported to the Police.

It is the Polices role to deal with criminal activity not the FCSs though intelligence arising from the Scheme has been invaluable in unearthing and stopping large scale thefts and other criminal activity. The rules of the Scheme apply to every person trading in cellular telephones or SIM cards or arranging connections in the UK.

Lumina is also now set to become the first UK service provider to offer customers on-line account management.

The facility will also be made available to new customers connected through BTCellnet-owned DX Communications or The Mobile Phone Store.

Business customers will have access to on-line account management from mid-November.

Lumina managing director Hugh Logan said:

The banks allow customers to handle day-to-day account management over the web thus allowing staff to focus on more complex issues.

We believe we should be offering a similar service. We are looking to offer the Internet as a key channel rather than a mandatory one through which to communicate with us.

Paul Lawton Luminas Director of Business Sales and Marketing believes that on-line account management will allow Lumina to focus on developing bespoke solutions.

Our sales account managers will be moving away from a box-shifting mentality and working towards creating a customer lifetime value approach.

They are Tariq Siddiq (Taz Technics 290 Moston Lane Manchester) and Javed Raja Sarwar and Tariq Sarwar (Talking Point. 320 London Road West Croydon). They join the other dealers Not in Good Standing. The full list of banned dealers can be found on www.fcs.org.uk.